brief encounter meaning, brief encounter definition | English Cobuild dictionary

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brief
( briefer comparative) ( briefest superlative) ( briefs plural & 3rd person present) ( briefing present participle) ( briefed past tense & past participle )

1 adj Something that is brief lasts for only a short time. (=fleeting) (Antonym: lengthy) She once made a brief appearance on television..., This time their visit is brief.

2 adj A brief speech or piece of writing does not contain too many words or details. (=short)
In a brief statement, he concentrated entirely on international affairs..., Write a very brief description of a typical problem.

3       adj   If you are brief, you say what you want to say in as few words as possible.
v-link ADJ   (=succinct)
Now please be brief<endash>my time is valuable...

4 adj You can describe a period of time as brief if you want to emphasize that it is very short.
usu ADJ n (emphasis, Antonym: long) For a few brief minutes we forgot the anxiety and anguish.

5       n-plural   Men's or women's underpants can be referred to as briefs.
also a pair of N
A bra and a pair of briefs lay on the floor.

6       verb   If someone briefs you, especially about a piece of work or a serious matter, they give you information that you need before you do it or consider it.   (=fill in)
A Defense Department spokesman briefed reporters...      V n
The Prime Minister has been briefed by her parliamentary aides.      V n

7       n-count   If someone gives you a brief, they officially give you responsibility for dealing with a particular thing.
  (mainly BRIT)
FORMAL   oft N to-inf   (=responsibility)
...customs officials with a brief to stop foreign porn coming into Britain.

8
  →   briefer
  →   briefing

9    You can say in brief to indicate that you are about to say something in as few words as possible or to give a summary of what you have just said.
♦ in brief      phrase   PHR with cl
In brief, take no risks.      brief against      phrasal verb   If someone, especially a politician, briefs against another person, he or she tries to harm the other person's reputation by saying something unfavourable about them.
  (BRIT)
Ministerial colleagues were briefing against him.      V P n

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